"Crooks Buy Gas For Others With Stolen Credit Card"

Reporting
Darcy Pohland (WCCO)

Two men were arrested after using a stolen credit card to fill up driver's cars with gas for half the value in cash. It's just another illegal way crooks are cashing in on high gas prices.

The latest incident happened at the Holiday Station at 24th and Washington in North Minneapolis.

Police arrested two men, Kyle Parker, 18, and Dewayne Braswell, 18.

It was Sunday afternoon when Graciano Fernandez pulled into his garage to find intruders waiting.

"When I opened (the door) I see the people ... and say what you want. They (were) asking (for) money," said Fernandez.

Fernandez said they started pushing and punching him.

Police said Parker and Braswell stole his wallet and cell phone and left after one final blow.

"The second person had a big bottle -- a big glass bottle and dropped it on my head," said Fernandez.

Investigators said the two came to a north Minneapolis holiday station store and offered half price gas for cash.

"(They) were pumping gas into other people's cars. They were using the victim from the robbery's (credit) card," said Minneapolis police Sgt. William Palmer.

The two managed to charge about $300 worth of gas in a half hour before police arrived to arrest them.

"It's horrible that it came to that, that people are going to those measures just to get cash," said Minneapolis resident Sheldon Owens.

Police said gas stations near freeways are often targeted because they are typically very busy.

"I know the economy is bad, but I think to do something like that and to take those measures is really ridiculous," said Minneapolis resident Bridgett Brown.

Some gas stations now require drivers to enter their zip code when using a credit card to pay at the pump to protect them from credit card fraud.

If the zip code doesn't match the card, the gas won't flow.

Super America has this system in the metro area and may soon expand that statewide because it's working so well.

Police said this crime has been steadily escalating over the past five years right along with gas prices.

http://wcco.com/crime/gas.crooks.prices.2.789540.html

Desperate people do desperate things!!

People are so pathetic sometimes. It's bad enough that this man was assaulted and had his items stolen, but the buttholes who took advantage at the pump are just as culpable.
I'm glad that gas stations are making it harder to use a credit card at the pump.

Exactly! Who are the REAL criminals??? Not just the men who beat up the guy and stole his card. But the one's who filled up their cars with the "discounted" gas. Gee whiz


At the very least I hope he gets cash back rewards on his card! ( I know...not funny)

When they offered me gas for $1.99 a gallon, I just thought I was getting a good deal. Didn't realize it was wrong

So you gas up in minnesota? hmmmm

Desperate my ass! North Minneapolis? If you want drugs, hookers, gangs, your car stolen, murders, drive by shootings, etc., etc., etc., then that is the place to go. You wouldn't catch me there unarmed. They were desperate for stealing instead of finding a job.

Damn!!!!

You're hard on your homeys cous!!!

Not at all! North Minneapolis is the state's highest crime area. Last night a young girl was shot in the leg by a stray bullet from a drive by shooting. Cops even hate going there. It really is a bad area.Remember the scene from National Lampoon's Vacation? "Okay kids, roll em up".
Can't fault Katie for mentioning this as it appears to outsiders to be two bad guys in a sea of yuppies but it is't. It is bad men in the badlands. She is one of our state's treasures. Don't you just want to pinch her cheek? She lives out amongst the lakes where the chirping at night comes from the crickets, not from guns and car alarms.

Pinch my cheek?
True, my area is pretty calm. But this article mentioned this crime has been escalating statewide and Im sure nationwide.

With all due respect, and myself being native american...just north of my town (the white earth reservation) can be scarier than the cities with shootings, stabbings, and cars that are stolen/ set on fire EVERYDAY.

I like the crickets & loons! Don't remind me of how scary the cities are! I'm planning on attending Walden University post doc!

When the economy declines, as it has been recently, the crime rate always escalates!

It's going to happen in all areas regardless of the residents social status and incomes.
Desperate people do desperate things!

What is scary to me is the meth labs that are popping up out in the country even out where I grew up in farmland country just south of Willmar. Farmers to this day leave keys in their equipment and don't lock their houses when they are away. Sherriff's deputies are few and far and everyone is suspicious of unknown cars passing by their farms. They all look out for each other but you can't be watching all of the time. Congrats on your college edjumucation! My son is your age too. He starts at the U of M this Spring. Move to Woodbury! The only crime there is forgetting to buy a scone with your latte.

That is why God invented the trigger finger.